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Olivia Foa'i

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Olivia Foaʻi is a New Zealand musician of Polynesian descent. She is known for her work with the group Te Vaka, including on the soundtrack of Disney's Moana, as well as her solo career, particularly her efforts to revive songwriting in the Tokelauan language.

Biography

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Foaʻi was born in New Zealand in the mid-1990s, and she grew up in Auckland.[1][2][3] She is of Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, and British heritage.[4]

Her father is the musician and producer Opetaia Foaʻi, the founder of the group Te Vaka, and her mother is Julie Foaʻi, the band's manager.[1][2][4] She began performing with Te Vaka at a young age, touring with the group around the world.[4][5]

Alongside fellow members of Te Vaka, she was featured prominently as a singer on several of the tracks for the 2016 Disney film Moana, including the opening song "Tulou Tagaloa".[1][4][5][6][7] That song earned her the award for Best Pacific Language Song at the 2017 Pacific Music Awards.[8]

Foaʻi then branched out on her own, releasing her first solo album, Candid, in 2019.[4][5] Her solo music combines Polynesian music, pop, and R&B.[9][10]

She has since been described as "one of the Pacific's most prominent singers".[1] In 2020, she was named Best Female Artist at the Pacific Music Awards for her album Candid.[1][3] The album was also named Best Pacific Language and Best Pacific Music Album.[11] She won Best Female Artist again as well as Best Pacific Language in 2023 for her single "Sunlight".[12]

Having heard her aunt singing in Tokelauan growing up, Foaʻi was inspired to incorporate her Tokelauan heritage into her music.[1] In 2023, she released her first song fully in Tokelauan, "Mai Anamua".[1][4]

In November 2023, she released her second album, Tūmau Pea, meaning 'Everlasting'.[3][10][13]

Foaʻi is currently based in Australia.[3][13]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Candid (2019)
  • Tūmau Pea (2023)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g McKenzie, Pete (15 September 2023). "Moana vocalist in push to revive threatened Pacific languages through song". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "'We Know The Way' - The music behind Disney's Moana". RNZ. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Award-winning songwriter Olivia Foa'i to release second album". Radio Polynesia Samoa. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Fuamoli, Sose; Lewis Boucher, Dinah (18 July 2023). "Olivia Foa'i on bringing back 'lost culture' and songwriting in Tokelauan". ABC Pacific. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Born into South Pacific music greatness, Olivia Foa'i now charts her own artistic path". ABC Pacific. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Opetaia and Olivia Foa'i perform Moana hit 'We Know The Way' at the 2017 NZ Music Awards". Newshub. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana (31 May 2017). "Pasifika music talent to take centre stage in Auckland with Moana soundtrack on list". NZ Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  8. ^ "VPMA17 finalists". CELEBRATING PACIFIC MUSIC. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ "THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Olivia Foa'i". Elsewhere by Graham Reid. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Olivia Foa'i releases sophomore album, 'Tūmau Pea' today". Music.Net.NZ. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Auckland hip hop duo Church & AP big winners at 2020 Pacific Music Awards". RNZ. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Melodownz, Sam V, Olivia Foa'i among big winners at Pacific Music Awards". RNZ. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Reviews: New releases from Kiwi women, plus Hall of Famer compilation". NZ Herald. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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